Mayo Clinic Video Interview: Patients at ACR Scientific Meeting

Some of you may be puzzled about what I’m doing in Chicago. So here’s a brief summary and a video interview with Mayo Clinic News Blog telling why patients are interested in a scientific meeting like the ACR Scientific Meeting.

What happens at the American College of Rheumatology Scientific Meeting?

“The ACR/ARHP Annual Scientific Meeting will be held November 4 – 9 in Chicago, IL, and is the must-attend event for anyone involved in research or delivery of rheumatologic care or services. Innovative sessions, ground breaking scientific abstracts, education developed based on practice gaps, the return of popular session formats, as well as hands-on skill training sessions are just some of the highlights,” ACR Annual Scientific Meeting page.

Why are patients interested?

In some ways, patients can be compared to a commodity that is traded at an ACR meeting. Without patients, there would not be rheumatology. Without patients, there would not be expensive pharmaceutical medications. Patients are the reason clinical trials and clinical practice training is needed.

Patients are interested in knowing what is being learned about “rheumatologic care or services.” They want to know about the innovations and ground breaking science that can address practice and treatment gaps. For patients, those represent changes in the ways that their needs for adequate diagnosis and treatment may be met.

It’s as simple as that.

I will be glad about any information or hope that I can provide to patients from what I learn here.